North Carolina
NC State
No. 17 Carolina Cruises Past No. 47 NC State, 7-0
February 6, 2009 | Women's Tennis
Feb. 6, 2009
RALEIGH, N.C. --- No. 17 North Carolina did not drop a set in a 7-0 sweep of in-state rival No. 47 North Carolina State Friday afternoon at the JW Isenhour Tennis Center. Sophomore Sanaz Marand won the only matchup of ranked opponents on the day, as the 47th-ranked player in the nation defeated No. 87 Lenka Hojckova at No. 1 singles, 6-2, 7-5. The match was the Atlantic Coast Conference opener for both squads.
Carolina (5-0, 1-0 ACC) opened up an early 1-0 lead on the strength of three decisive doubles victories. Marand and senior Sophie Grabinski, the nation's No. 15 doubles tandem, were first off after sweeping Berkeley Brock and Hojckova at the top position, 8-0. Senior Laura Reichert and freshman Haley Hemm clinched the point with a 8-2 win over Pender Sessoms and Jackie Ussery at No. 3.
The Tar Heels continued to dominate in singles play, taking all six matches in straight sets, highlighted by Marand's victory over Hojckova at No. 1. After wins by sophomore Jelena Durisic and senior Austin Smith made it 3-0, freshman Shinann Featherston secured the victory with a 6-1, 7-6 (6) win over Diana Mortlock at No. 4.
Hemm opened her ACC career in impressive fashion, rolling past Ussery, 6-1, 6-0, at No. 6, while Reichert did not drop a game in a 6-0, 6-0 triumph over Sessoms at No. 5.
UNC steps out of conference for a marquee showdown on Sunday, as the Tar Heels host No. 7 Florida at the Cone-Kenfield Tennis Center at 1 p.m.
Doubles
1. No. 15 Marand/Grabinski (UNC) d. Brock/Hojckova, 8-0
2. Featherston/Smith (UNC) d. Barringer/Mortlock, 8-4
3. Reichert/Haley Hemm (UNC) d. Sessoms/Ussery, 8-2
Order of finish: 1,3,2
Singles
1. No. 47 Sanaz Marand (UNC) d. No. 87 Lenka Hojckova, 6-2, 7-5
2. No. 103 Austin Smith (UNC) d. Berkeley Brock, 6-1, 6-3
3. Jelena Durisic (UNC) d. Neils Barringer, 6-3, 6-1
4. No. 83 Shinann Featherston (UNC) d. Diana Mortlock, 6-1, 7-6 (6)
5. Laura Reichert (UNC) d. Pender Sessoms, 6-0, 6-0
6. Haley Hemm (UNC) d. Jackie Ussery, 6-1, 6-0
Order of finish: 3,2,4*,1,5,6
*Clinched the match
Players Mentioned
